Professional Documents
Culture Documents
contents
3 Welcome: 110th Anniversary 32 Giulia: A Star Is Born
5 The Origins 35 Autodelta
6 The First Car 39 New Segments
7 A Time for Exploration 43 A New Company
9 The Iconic Logo 45 Car of The Year
11 Alfa Meets Romeo 48 8C Competizione
12 The Post-War I Era 50 The Centenary
14 The Quadrifoglio Symbol 53 2020
17 Early Racing Victories 58 A Glimpse at The Future
19 From 6 to 8 60 My Favorite Alfa Romeo Cars
By Ralph Gilles
Nino Franchini
and the “Biplano”
(1910).
A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP “Aerodinamica”
But having great vehicles and the best drivers to win races are
not enough: you also need a bit of luck. With this in mind, added
to an ill-concealed superstition, the company decided to paint
a lucky charm on the hoods of its cars: a green four-leaf clover.
Vincenzo Florio himself described the legendary race with
moving – and at times – incredible words which described a
fascinating and still heroic period in motorsports:
“…the crowd’s excitement to see the winner arrive was at
the peak of intensity, and right then Ascari’s car appeared
among the hills. At the curve of the station in Cerda, Ascari’s
Alfa stopped dead, and together with the mechanic, the driver
struggled to rummage in that tangle of contraptions to bring
the engine back to life. Some dramatic minutes went by and
several mechanics ran to the rescue. Finally, the car started,
but cut through the finish line with four more people on board.
The racing commissioners did not consider the arrival valid
in those conditions, and forced Ascari to go back. Since he
was unable to find his own mechanic, he grabbed a spectator
who had snuck into the refueling area to look around, threw
him into the mechanic’s seat, took off again, went back to the
spot where he had stopped, and once again cut through the
finish line. But by then some minutes had passed, and Ascari
lost his victory because, in the meantime, Sivocci raced in and
snatched the first place away from him.”
Ugo Sivocci
driving the
RL TF.
Original
Quadrifoglio
Emblem.
Current
Quadrifoglio
Emblem.
Vittorio Jano
GP Tipo P2 (1925-1930)
GP Tipo P2 (1924)
6C 1500 Super Sport (1928)
The P2 was followed by the Alfa Romeo 6C, in refer- 6C 1500 Sport (1928-1929)
From 6 to 8
The “Monoposto” Is Born
Alfa Romeo developed a new straight-8 engine to be
used in the world’s first genuine single-seat Grand Prix
racing car. Engine reliability was undisputed and the
names of famous drivers such as Giuseppe Campari,
Tazio Nuvolari and Achille Varzi became synonymous
with Alfa Romeo, winning many legendary races such as
Mille Miglia, Le Mans 24 Hours, Targa Florio and a long
list of international Grands Prix. In addition, the valuable
technical lessons learned from racing were transferred
to standard production models.
8C 2300 Monza
Tipo B - P3 (1932)
One vehicle that was quite experimental and certainly
captured a lot of attention was the Alfa Romeo Bimo-
tore. Designed by Luigi Bazzi for Scuderia Ferrari, the
vehicle used the Alfa Romeo Tipo B as a starting point,
and a second 8-cylinder engine was added behind the
driver replacing the fuel tank, which was moved to the
sides of the body. The vehicle was extremely powerful
but difficult to handle. Only two units were produced
and while the vehicles didn’t achieve racing success, with
Tazio Nuvolari behind the wheel the vehicle reached a
top speed of 209 mph (337 kph).
Bimotore (1935)
Rita
Hayworth
behind the
wheel of
6C 2500 Villa d’Este the 6C 2500
Super Sport.
Formula 1 Wins
In 1950, the new Formula 1 World Championship was
inaugurated, and for the Tipo 158 – known as “Alfetta” – it
meant 11 victories in 11 races, with Giuseppe “Nino” Farina
winning the title. The next year Juan Manuel Fangio won
the title in the Tipo 159, a 425-hp race car capable of a
top speed of 190 mph (306 kph), thanks to the most pow-
erful 1500 engine ever made. These victories cemented
Alfa Romeo’s reputation as a force to be reckoned with in
the world of racing.
Video: https://youtu.be/ThZPWwVmxXA
Nino Farina in the
Alfa Romeo 158
at the Silverstone
Grand Prix (1950).
Formula 1 Wins
Despite dominating the circuit, Alfa Romeo needed to
concentrate its efforts on re-launching production cars,
and decided to withdraw from racing, undefeated. The
1900 made its debut on the market, as the first Alfa
Romeo car made on an assembly line and produced
without a separate chassis. Introduced at the 1950 Par-
is Motor Show, it was the first Alfa Romeo offered
with left-hand drive and was labelled as “the family
sedan that wins races.”
1900 Berlina
(1950-1958)
1900 SS (1954)
Formula 1 Wins
Alfa Romeo
1900 C52 “Disco
Volante” Coupé
prototype The Expansion
(1952)
While Alfa Romeo retired from Grand Prix racing, the
company developed a series of experimental sports rac-
ing cars: The Alfa Romeo 1900 C52 “Disco Volante” (Ital-
ian for “Flying Saucer”). The car had a streamlined, wind
tunnel-tested bodywork and was capable of reaching a
speed of almost 150 mph (241 kph). Three spiders were
made in 1952, with a 2-liter all-alloy four-cylinder engine;
a year later one was modified into a coupé, and another
one into a more conventional-looking spider with 3-liter
6-cylinder engine. Four of the five futuristic looking cars
built in total survive today.
Alfa Romeo
1900 C52
“Disco Volante”
Prototype
(1952)
The Expansion
Giulietta Sprint
1954 model, body
by Bertone.
The Expansion
Giulietta Berlina (1955)
Giulietta Spider (1955) Other Giulietta derivatives were produced during this
period, including the Sprint Veloce, the Giulietta Sprint
Speciale, the TI and the lighter, faster and race-ready
Giulietta SZ.
Giulietta SZ
Coda tronca
(1960)
The Expansion
Giulia: A Star Is Born
Eight years after the success of the Giulietta, Alfa Romeo
unveiled the Giulia TI at the Monza Autodrome on June 27,
1962. With a record drag coefficient of 0.34, weighing 2,205
pounds (1,000 kilograms) and packing a 1570 cc engine, Giulia
was well-known for its lively handling,
acceleration, safety and overall driving
dynamics among small European se-
dans. The sales success of the Giulia
prompted Alfa Romeo to expand the
shop floor and open a new plant in
Arese near Milan. This plant became
Alfa Romeo’s head office until 1986.
Giulia TI Super
2600 Sprint (1962)
At the end of its long career, the Giulia and its multiple
derivatives – such as the Sprint GT, the Spider Duetto
(1966) and the Super – reached the outstanding goal
of one million units produced. The Spider Duetto is
arguably the most famous of the models, as it was the
Giulia Berlina (1962-1978) iconic sports car driven by Dustin Hoffman in the 1967
Hollywood movie, The Graduate. Just 6,325 units of the
Spider 1600 were built. The model was replaced by the
1750 Spider Veloce, the Spider 1300 Junior and the 2000
Spider Veloce, manufactured until 1994.
Giulia TZ2
Giulia Sprint GTA
and Giulia TZ
Autodelta
33 Stradale
Autodelta
The Portello plant, by now incorporated into the growing
city of Milan, was insufficient to meet demand. Produc-
tion was gradually transferred to the new plant located
in Arese, in the northwest of Milan. On April 29, 1968, the
brand also set the foundation stone for a new plant in
Pomigliano d’Arco in Naples, and it also built a prototype
test track at Balocco in the Piedmont region.
Autodelta
New Segments
Alfa Romeo continued to expand its portfolio in
1971 with the launch of the Alfasud, a quick, com-
pact entry-level car equipped with a number of
sophisticated mechanical solutions, including a
flat-4 boxer engine with front-wheel drive.
Alfasud (1971)
Alfetta (1972)
Alfetta GT (1974)
New Segments
33 TT 12 (1973-1975)
New Segments
Mario Andretti
and the Tipo 179 F1
racing car (1981).
Frankfurt 1997
156 (1997)
A New Company
Car of The Year
Another European Car of the Year for the brand was the
147, which was launched at the 2000 Turin Motor Show.
Originally presented as a three-door only, it was soon
joined by a five-door. In true Alfa Romeo style, sportier
versions of the 147 were soon available. With a powerful
3.2-liter V6 engine, the 147 GTA was an immediate suc-
cess among the “hot hatch” segment.
Alfa 147
GTA (2002)
8C Competizione
The Centenary
To celebrate its centenary in the year 2010, the brand revived
the Giulietta. The Alfa Romeo Style Centre designed the new
Giulietta, a five-door hatchback with an unmistakable Alfa
Romeo look, capable of expressing both agility and a high de-
gree of comfort on everyday roads. Using sophisticated sus-
pension solutions, dual-pinion active steering, and state-of-
the-art manufacturing technologies, the Giulietta achieved
excellent levels of on-board comfort, dynamic features and
safety (both active and passive).
Giulietta
Sprint (2014)
4C and 4C Spider (2016)
The Centenary
Stelvio and Giulia (2017)
The Centenary
2020
In its 110th anniversary, the brand continues to move for-
ward in terms of design, performance and technology, with
both the Giulia and Stelvio receiving new interiors and Ad-
vanced Driver Assist Systems. Inside, each model boasts a
standard 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen; a redesigned
center console with improved storage, new gearshift and
available wireless phone charging; new steering wheel
wrapped in softer leather; and redesigned dials and knobs
offering improved feel and feedback. A new Active Driver
Assist Package offers level 2 autonomous functions in-
cluding traffic jam assist, active lane keep assist, traffic
sign recognition and drowsy driver detection.
Stelvio Quadrifoglio
Stelvio Quadrifoglio
2020
Giulia Quadrifoglio
2020
To help celebrate its 110-year anniversary, Alfa Romeo in
March unveiled the Giulia GTA, a limited-edition high-per-
formance sedan that harkens back to the famous 1965
Giulia Sprint GTA, which dominated sports car racing in
its time. For the new model, GTA, which stands for “Gran
Turismo Alleggerita” or Gran Touring Lightened, rep-
resents weight savings of around 220 pounds (100 kg) as
well as an increase of roughly 30 horsepower from the
Ferrari-derived twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6. The result is an
incredible weight-to-power ratio of just 6.2 lb/hp.
Giulia GTA
2020
Giulia GTA
Limited to 500 units worldwide, the GTA features ex-
tensive application of carbon fiber inside and out as well
as a race-inspired cockpit replete with Alcantara on the
steering wheel, dash, door panels and bucket seats. A
more extreme yet still street legal GTAm version (for
modified) deletes the inner door panels and rear seats in
favor of a roll cage and more aggressive front seats with
carbon-fiber shells. With their GTA, lucky owners will also
receive a Goodwool car cover, Bell helmet in special GTA
livery and Alpinestars racing suit, gloves and shoes.
2020
A Glimpse at The Future
Alfa Romeo looks back only to move forward. Inspired
by a unique blend of technology and sensation, and me-
chanical performance and passion, the brand leverages
its groundbreaking Italian design, advanced technology
and passionate racing-bred performance to build a vision
for the future and explore new segments.
At the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, Alfa Romeo re-
vealed the Tonale concept, signaling a new crossover
SUV that will be positioned below the Stelvio. Like
the Stelvio, the Tonale gets its name from a famous
road – the Tonale Pass – in the Italian Alps. The To-
nale concept, penned at Alfa Romeo’s Centro Stile
in Turin, was shown in Geneva with a plug-in hybrid
drivetrain, representing the brand’s future in electrifi-
cation and the premium compact crossover segment.
In true Alfa Romeo fashion, the Tonale won multiple
awards, including “Best Concept Car Design” by Auto
& Design, and “Most Beautiful Show Car 2020” at the
35th Festival Automobile International.
By Ralph Gilles
Head of Design, FCA.
GP Tipo P2 (1925)
The Tipo P2 won the very first World Championship but it
also represents the turning point that creates the brand
DNA: light, agile, essential and victorious.
Tipo 158 “Alfetta”
The Alfetta represents the edge of the pre-war Alfa
Romeo tradition (twin-cam, transaxle, supercharged) and
it opened the age of the modern motorsport, winning two
F1 World Championships.
Giulia Quadrifoglio
It’s the synthesis of Alfa
Romeo DNA: technology
(materials, lightweight, bal-
ance), performance, driving
pleasure and design. But it’s
also proud of Alfa Romeo
tradition and able to be a
protagonist of its age.
1929
6C 1750 SS
1947
6C 2500
Freccia D’Oro
Lines were smoothed with the 164, but it wasn’t until the 156 that there
was a real change in direction: the most relevant Alfa Romeo design ele-
ments were re-imagined in a modern and futuristic way. The shield made
a comeback as the focus of the front end, headlights with profiled exteri-
ors housed rounded lenses and
the trefoil became the stylistic 2003
feature from which all the car 8C Competizione
2019
Giulia
Quadrifoglio
2018
Stelvio
Quadrifoglio
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